Container



INVENTOR.

James 6. F l'orem' BY ml J. C. FlORETTl CONTAINER Filed March 5, 1948 Jan. 29, 1952 Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UN ED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 c a ms. (01. zi -fats) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containersandthe primary object of the present invention is to provide a container including a pairof interconnected cup members connected by a passage and embodying novel and improved valve means for selectively opening andclosing the passage so that liquids may be poured independently from the cup members or simultaneously poured from; the chambers.

Another important object of the presentinventionis to-provide a container including a pair of liquid holding cup members which are connected by passage wherein there is mounted a controlvalve,-and novel and improved means for selectively activating the valve to an openand closed position. A further object of the present invention is to provide a container for liquids that is extremely small and compact in structure and the partsof which are quickly and readily assembled or dis assembled facilitating the convenient inspection or cleaning of parts. A

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a container that is simple and practicalin construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein'like numerals refer to like parts throughout; and in which:

' Figure lis a perspectiveview of the present nta ner;

'Figu're Z is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewer the present invention taken substantially through the center of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view'of Figure l; and

Figure 4is' a transversehorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section 111116.414 tF u ;2

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral! represents a substantially cylindrical container of preferably plastic material generally, comprising a lowercup memher or chamber l2 andupper cup member or chamber 14. The open upper end l6 of the lower cup member [2 is internally threaded torecelva'bly engage the externally threaded reducedbottom wallla of the upper cup member l4;

T e bo gmlwa flo the u per p m mb M is formed iwith an annular, beveled valve seat 25] which communicates with a passage 22 provided in a substantiallyspherical support 24 that is formed'with perforations 26. The lower portion of the spherical support 24 is provided with an internally threaded opening 28 that threadingly engages the externally threaded upper end 39 of a I substantially cylindrical, perforated strainer member 32 having an integral substantially frusto-conical lower end portion 34 which is also formed with perforations 36.

Slidably positioned in a guide opening 38 formalin the thickened wall 40 of the upper chamber l4, isa plunger or operating rod 42 which isprovided with a reduced inner end 44 that extends into the lower chamber [2 and terminates adjacent a guide channel 46 integrally formed with the spherical support 24.

Pivoted loosely within the guide channel 46 is in actuating lever or link 48 one end 50 of which is disposed within the interior of the spherical supports 24. andthe remaining end 52hr this lever 48 is slidablyand pivotally connected to the inner extremity of the reduced inner end 24 for the plunger 42. The end 5|] of the lever 48 is loz asely received in an opening 54 formed in the stem portion 55 of an annular, beveled valve 58 that is normally positioned in the valve seat 20.

Receivably engaging 'an internally threaded socket 60 provided in the lower free end of the stem portion 55, is the reduced externally threaded end 52 ofa rod or stem 64 having a beveled substantially frusto-conicalvalveor plunger head 'fidintegrally formed with its remaining end for frictional engagement in the valve seat 34.

Biased betweenan'annular shoulder 68 within the guide opening 38 andthe annular shoulder 10 formed on the plunger 42, is a coil spring 12 that 'n'ormallyretains the plunger in a raised position and the valves 58ian-d B6 normally in a closed position in thes'eatslll and 34.

integrally formed with the outer periphery of the upperbha'niber I4," is a holding lip or lug M thatis adaptedto be received in a notchor recess formed in theplunger 42 adjacent a finger enaging: ring 13 fixedthereto for holding the plunger 42 in a lowered position and the valves 53 and B6 in an open position.

' In practical llse of the present invention, a le'otedflhid is "first placed in the lower cup member i2, andthenthe upper cup member i4 is appliedto the lower cup member lzans also filled with a selected'fi-ii d. Todischarge thefluid from insuring i flmemta "I he' vrt merely 1. A container comprising threadingly connected upper and lower cup members, said upper cup member having a, bottom wall supported on the upper end of the lower cup member and an opening in said bottom wall, a perforated support integrally formed with the bottom wall and depending therefrom into said lower cup member, a strainer removably carried by and depending from said support and disposed entirely within said lower cup member, a valve member having a head portion adapted to close the opening in said bottom wall, said valve member including a stem extending downwardly into said strainer, a rod slidably mounted in said strainer and secured to the lower end of said stem for movement ther with, said rod having a lower end, a plunger head secured to the lower end of said rod, means for actuating said valve member, and means urging said valve member to a closed position.

2. A container comprising inter-connected up per and lower cup member, said upper cup mezn her having a bottom wall supported on the upper end of said lower cup member and an opening in said bottom wall, a perforated support integrally formed with the bottom wall and depending therefrom into said lower cup member, a strainer removably carried by and depending from said support and disposed entirely within said lower cup member remote from the upper cup member, a valve member having a head portion located above the bottom wall and adapted to close the Q opening in said bottom wall, said valve member including a stem extending downwardly into said strainer, a rod slidably mounted in said strainer and secured to the lower end of said stem for movement therewith, a plunger head mounted on in said stem receiving the free end of said link, I means acting on said plunger and normally ur mg the valve member to a closed position, and means engaging said plunger for holding the valve member in an open position.

3. The. combination of claim 2 wherein said last named means includes a lug projecting from the outer surface of said upper cup member, said plunger having a recess adapted to receive said lug upon sliding movement of said plunger in one direction.

4. A container comprising upper and lower inter-connected cup members, a passage in the lower wall of the upper cup member establishing a communication between the cup members, strainer means carried by and depending from the upper cup member and extending well into the lower cup member, said strainer means communicating at its upper end with the passage, valve means for selectively opening and closing the passage, a slidable plunger carried by the upper cup member for actuating the valve means, means acting on the plunger and normally retaining the valve means in a closed position, means for holding the valve means in an open position, and a plunger head positioned in said strainer means and attached to and movable with said valve means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for holding the valve means in an open position includes a holding l-ug integrally formed with the outer surface of said upper cup member, and a lug recess provided in the plunger for receiving the holding lug.

6. A container comprising a lower cup member open at its upper end, an upper cup member removably carried by the upper end of the lower cup member, a hollow support depending from the upper cup member and extending downwardly into the lower cup member, a strainer removably carried by and depending from the support, a passage leading from the lower cup member to the upper cup member, a valve for controlling the how of liquid through the passage, a plunger slidably carried by the upper cup member, a pivotal link carried by the support and connecting the plunger to the valve, spring means recessed in the wall of said upper cup member and urging the plunger in one direction for normally retaining the valve in a closed position, means carried by the upper cup member for holding the valve in an open position, and a stem depending from said valve and slidably received in said strainer, said stem having an enlarged lower end portion.

7. A container comprising a cylindrical body composed of upper and lower cup members, said cup members being substantially equal in diameter, said upper cup member including a bottom wall removably secured to the upper end of the lower cup member, a strainer depending from the bottom wall and positioned in the lower cup member, said bottom wall having an opening therein in registry with the strainer, valve means for selectively opening and closing the opening, and a plunger slidably received in the strainer and always remaining entirely within the strainer throughout opening and closing movement of the valve means.

8. A container comprising a cylindrical body composed of upper and lower cup members, said cup members being substantially equal in diameter, said upper cup member includin a bottom wall removably secured to the upper end of the lower cup member, a strainer depending from the bottom wall and positioned in the lower cup member, said bottom wall having an opening therein in registry with the strainer, valve means for selectively opening and closing the opening, said valve means including a stem extending into the strainer, a rod attached to said stem and entering the strainer and an enlargement on the lower end of said rod.

9. The combination of claim 8 and a valve actuator carried by said upper cup member and connected to said stem.

JAMES C. FIORETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

